Younger people with dementia: Diagnostic issues, effects on carers and use of services
G. Luscombe
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
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| Omfang | Side 323- 330
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| Opplysninger | Objective. To determine difficulties experienced by carers of youngerpeople with dementia.Design. Cross-sectional self-report questionnaire survey.Participants. 102 eligible carers of persons less than 65 years ofage with dementia, recruited through support groups and clinicians'referrals.Main outcome measures. Problems with diagnostic process;professionals/services consulted; psychological, physical,occupational and financial impact of illness on carers and children;use of and satisfaction with services.Main results. Diagnostic problems were reported by 71% of carers.Mean time until diagnosis was 3.4 years (SD 2.8) after consulting 2.8(1.4) professionals. Carers reported frustration (81%) and grief(73%). Adverse psychological effects were common, more so in femalethan male carers (p < 0.01). The younger the carer, the morepsychological and physical effects were experienced (p < 0.01). Only8% of carers considered that their children had encountered noproblems because of the dementia. Of 61 working carers, 59% reducedtheir hours or stopped working after diagnosis, and 89% of all carershad experienced financial problems subsequent to diagnosis. Mostcarers (89%) had used a support service, but 25% had never usedcommunity support, 32% had never used respite. Proportions of carersrating services as 'good' ranged between 43 and 100%.Conclusions. Younger people with dementia, and their carers, facedifficulties in obtaining a diagnosis. Carers also experiencepsychological problems, financial worries, loss of employment andfamily conflict, and their children are affected. Most carers hadused services, but some dissatisfaction existed. (C) 1998 John Wiley& Sons, Ltd.
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